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The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move through main tier links and expand / close menus in sub tiers. Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

CTA TRANSFER TUNNEL WORK UNDER WAY New Connection to Benefit Red, Orange, Green Line Riders

February 21, 2002

2/21/02

Work is under way on an underground transfer tunnel connecting the CTA State/Roosevelt Red Line subway with the Green/Orange Line elevated station, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The project, the first of its kind in nearly 60 years, will provide a convenient, ADA-compliant transfer between the stations. Currently, passengers must exit one station and walk outside to reach the other.

The new tunnel offers many benefits for users, said Commissioner Miguel d?Escoto of CDOT, which is building the structure. ?This will provide a free, direct link for riders, one that saves time and is easy to use by people with disabilities."

An elevator, escalator and stairs will connect the subway and elevated stations, d?Escoto said.

The last transfer tunnels, at Jackson and Washington, were built in the 1940s.

"The new facility will provide an attractive, accessible connection outside the Loop for people who need to change between Red, Green and Orange Line trains for trips on our system," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. "This will be a great convenience for customers transferring between trains and for those using Midway Airport."

The tunnel will be adorned with a large mural composed of more than 4,000 colorful tiles created by visitors to the Museum Campus in 1999. The mural, titled ?Hopes and Dreams," was created by Juan Angel Chavez and Corrine D. Peterson of the Chicago Art Group.

In recognition of the Museum Campus and its three institutions, it depicts clouds, oceans, forests earth and space.

Work on the $7.2 million project began last November, and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2002. Funding is provided through Illinois FIRST and a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant.

Beginning earlier this month, the northbound lanes of State Street were closed and one northbound traffic lane moved over to the southbound lanes to allow construction of the connection with the existing Roosevelt Red Line station mezzanine. Two southbound lanes remain open. This work will last for two months, at which time the northbound roadway will reopen. The Roosevelt Red Line Station will remain open throughout the construction.